Bus bar connecter



Aug. 25 1931. w. WURDACK, JR

BUS BAR CONNECTER Filed March 28, 1929 Patented Aug. 25, 1931' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE `WILLIAM WURDACK, JR., OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO WM. WU-RDAGK ELEC- TRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION 0F MISSOURI BUS BAR CONNECTER Application led March 28, 1929.

This invention relates generally to electric panel-boards. More particularly, my invention relates to a certain new and useful improvement in devices for electrically connecting the circuit and meter bus-bars of such panel-boards and has for its chief objects the provision of a device of the type and for the purpose stated which may be inexpensively manufactured, which is relatively simple, compact, and durable in construction, which is conveniently usable, and which is efficient in the performance of its intended functions, and the improvement and simplification generally of devices of the class mentioned.

And with the above and other objects in view, my present invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings,-

Figures l and 2 illustrate fragmentally in end and plan view, respectively, an electric panel-board equipped with bus-bar connecters of my invention;

Figure 3 is an enlarged elevational view of the connecter; and

Figure 4 is a similar View of the connecter talren approximately at right angles to Figure 3.

Referring now more in detail and by reference characters to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, A designates an electric panel board of any standard or approved construction, of which, briefly for present descriptive purposes, it may be stated, l is the base, preferably of slate or other suitable insulation material, 2, 2, are the meter busbars, and S, 3, are the circuit bus-bars. The bars 2 and 3 are preferably disposed on edge and suitably mounted and arranged on the base l, the bars 3 being in superposed right-angular relation to the under-lying bars 2, as shown and as will be clear to those skilled in the art. For electrically connecting with convenience and facility a bar 3 with any selected one of the underlying bars Serial No. 350,627.

2, the panel-board A is equipped with the connecters B of my invention.

The connecter B includes a suitably elongated hollow or tubular shell 4 of general cylindrical contour, open at its lower end and closed and provided at its upper end with a suitable manipulating-head 5. It may be here stated that the shell 4 is preferably constructed of any suitable metallic or other conduct-ing material having yielding characteristics, such as, for instance, copper, for purposes presently appearing, the head 5 being of insulation material.

Intermediate its ends, the shell 4 is oppositely flattened and otherwise manipulated, as at a, as well as also longitudinally cut away in diametrically opposite portions of its wall, and thereby integrally provided with a pair of co-operating upper bar-engaging spring-portions or jaws 6, 6, having a length, longitudinally of the connecter, substantially equal to the width or height of the respective bars 3, and with a communicating slot 7 having a width somewhat greater than the thickness of the respective bars 3 and also having a length, longitudinally of the connecter, substantially equal to the width or height of the respective bars 3.

At its open end, that is to say, the end opposite the head 5, the shell 4 is again flattened upon itself, as at b, but at right angles to its flattened portion a and again longitudinally cut away or slotted, as at c, in diametrically opposite portions of its wall, the slots 0 opening at an end to the open end ofthe shell. The shell 4 is thereby integrally provided with a second or lower pair of co-operating bar-engaging springportions or jaws 8 having a length, longitudinally of the connecter, substantially equal to the width or height of the respective bars 2, the jaws 8 being thus in linear alignment with the jaws 6, but disposed at right angles thereto and also spaced therefrom, longitudinally of the connecter, by the intermediate bar-accommodating slots 7.

Consequently, in use, the connecter is first mounted for slidable adjustment at its slots 7 upon and lengthwise of a bar 3 for electrically connecting the respective bar 3 selectively with any one of the underlying bars 2, as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure l. The connecter, being then laterally adjusted along the bar 3 to reside over the particular bar 2 selected, will, ,on suitable downward pressure lexerted thereupon, be shifted longitudinally and simultaneously engage at its upper jaws 6 with the' upper bar 3 and at its lo'wernjaws 8l with the lower bar 2 and thereby electrically'tlirough 'the shell 4 connect the same together, as shown, upward pull upon the connecter inY alike manner disengaging the respectiye jaws and bars and thereby breaking the electrical cnnection therebetween.

The conductor is simple in form, may be cheaply manufactured, is most convenient in manipulation, and exceedingly efficient in the performance o iiits intended functions.

,It is vto be understood that vchanges and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of my new connecter may be made and substituted for ythose herein shown and described lwithoutk departing from the ynature and principle of my invention. 'i 'i Having thus described nay invention, what I claim and desire tol secure by Letters ent is: y

A bus-bar connecter comprising an elongated hollow shell of yielding conducting material, the shell being generally of cylindrical contour and open at an end and whose wall is formed with pairs of registering cutouts and flattened to thereby integrally include a first pair oi spring jaws for engaging a bar disposed ltransversely the con,- necter, the open end comprising a second .pair of spring jaws disposed in right :ingular longitudinal relation to the first'pair of jaws for engaging a second bar disposed in underlying relation and at a right angle to theirst bar, the wall of the shell having an additional, larger cut-out for providing a ber-ecommedetine Slot intermediate Said pairs of jaws, said slot being in communication with.v the upper pair of being closed off at its lower end from the second pair of jaws. i

1H testimony Whereef, I have Signed my named to this speciiication.

wiLLiAi/LWURDAGK, Jg. 

